Taut washer for cloth



Jan. 1, 1952 H. A. DAMERON 2,530,892

TAUT WASHER FOR CLOTH Filed Nov. 17, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet l Ala/2y /4- 0,4145%,

g woe/Mm Jan. 1, 1952 H. A. DAMERON 2,580,892

TAUT WASHER FOR CLOTH Filed Nov. 17, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 1, 1952 H. A. DAMERON TAUT WASHER FOR CLOTH Filed Nov. 17, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 1, 1952 H. A. DAMERON 2,580,892

TAUT WASHER FOR CLOTH Filed Nov. 17, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 1, 1952 H. A. DAMERON 2,580,892

TAUT WASHER FOR CLOTH I Filed Nov. 17, I947 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 H. A. DAMERON Jan. 1, 1 952 TAUT WASHER FOR CLOTH 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Nov. 17, 194

awe/whom.

H. A. DAMERON TAUT WASHER FOR CLOTH Jan. 1, 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Nov. 17, 1947 l/EA/ev A. DAMEEOAI,

awe/who'v- Patented Jan. 1, 1 952 UNITED STATES PATENT oFF c TAUT WASHER! FOR CLOTH Henry A. Dameron, Greenville, S. 0., assignor to Greenville Steel and Foundry Company, Greenville, S. 0., a corporation of South Carolina Application November 17, 1947, Serial No. 786,522 Claims. (01. 68-176) This invention relates to a tight washer for clothand is preferably used at the discharge end of a bleaching apparatus wherein the cloth is bleached and then it is passed through the present machine for washing the same.

It is an object of this invention to provide a tight washer for cloth in rope form in which the cloth is passed in spiral form over a plurality of top and bottom reels or rolls and through a bath of water for a plurality of times to remove the bleaching material therefrom and to discharge the cloth to other apparatus for future operations such as drying and folding or to dyeing machines and the like.

Some of the objects 'of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an isometric viewjlooking at th rear portion of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is an end view looking at the left-hand end of'the machine as shown in Figure l and showing the main drive shaft in section;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the machine;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional plan'view taken along the line G-6 in Figure 2 and showing portions broken away;

Figure '7 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 1--l in Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in Figure 7;

- Figure ,9 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 99 in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an isometric showing of the interior portions of the machine such as the rollers and guide rail and the like;

Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view along the line llll in Figure 5.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numerals l0 and H indicate channel base members which rest upon thefloor, and at each corner thereof are secured by any suitable means taken such as screws 12, angle members [3 which have" suitable holes l4 therein by means of which the channel base members In and II may be anchored to a suitable base disposed below the floor level. The floor level of the plant in which this,

machine is disposed is indicated by the line l5.

Rising upwardly and secured at their lower ends to the base channel bar [0 "are upright frame members l6 and ",andrising upwardly 2 from the base channel bar I I are upright channel bars l8 and I9. Welded to the top ends of the upright channel bars 5 and H is a horizontal channel bar 22 and a similar bar 23 is disposed between and secured to the upper ends of the upright channel bars l8 and I9.

Secured between the proximate sides of the base channel bars 10 and ll and bridging the gap therebetween are channel bars 25 and 26, and it will be noted that the channel bar 26 is at a higher elevation with respect to the horizontal than the channel bar 25, for purposes to be later explained. These channel bars 25 and 26 have secured therebetween suitable channel bars 21, 28 and 29. It will be noted that the base channel bars l0 and II extend substantially beyond the upright channel bars l6, l1, l8 and 19 respectively and suitable brace members 30 are secured between the outside surfaces of the upright channel bars above named and the ends of the base channel bars 10 and II for purposes of rigidifying the frame.

Secured between the proximate edges of the upright channel bars [6 and I1 is a channel bar 33, and above the channel bar 33 there is also disposed between the proximate surfaces of the upright channel bars H and [8 suitable channel bars 34 and 35. Suitable angle bars 36 and-31 are secured between the proximate surfaces of the upright channel bars l6 and I! and the lower surface of the top channel bar 22; Secured to the horizontal upper channel bar 22 is a bearing mount 38 on which a bearing 39 is mounted.

' Secured between the upright channel bars l8 and I9 is a channel bar 42 and also above this surfaces of the upright channel bars IB and l9;

} and the lower surface of upper channel bar 23,

.nated by reference character T. This bottom 53 v are angle bars 45 and 46. On the upper channel bar 23 is mounted a bearing'mount 41 on which is mounted a bearing 48. Secured between the uprights l5 and I8 is a channel bar and secured between the'uprights I1 and I9 is a channel bar 5|.

Resting on the transverse channel bars 25 and i 26 and on the cross channel bars 21, 2B and 29 is a bottom portion 53 of a tub, broadly desigslants toward the front side of the ca sing and has drain plugs 6!] in each compartment. The front Wall of this tub is indicated by the reference character 5 l -w hile the rear wall is indi cated at 55; {The rear wall is of less height than the front wall and is turned rearwardly and then downwardly as at 56. The front wall 54 extends upwardly slightly above the horizontal channel bars 22 and 23 and is bent forwardly and downwardly as at 51. The two end portions of the tub T are indicated at 58 and 59. A pair of cover sections 63 and 64 are flanged as at 65 and 66 and are secured together by a plurality of bolts or rivets 51.

To the, front lower edge of cover portion 63 is secured an angle bar 68 and the horizontal portion of angle bar 68 is secured to the upper end. or flanged portion 51 of the front Wall 54 by means of a plurality of bolts or rivets I0. The rear half of the cover 54 has secured to its rear lower edge an angle bar II, whose horizontal leg is secured by any suitable meanssuch; a riyets or bolts 12 to a channeled portion I3 of abaflie plate 74 which extends inwardly and is curled at its free end as at I5.

It is thus seen that there is provided an opening I1 between the flanged. portion 56. of the rear wall 55 and the baffle plate flange I3 through which access may be gained to they interior for threading the. cloth around thereels or for repair work or for any otherreason. Secured between the flanged portion 56. and the flanged portion'IS of battle plate 14 is an upright angle bar I8, which has, a plate-80 secured to its interior surface and said plate 80. is also secured to another. angle bar KI shown in Figure 6-. Extending from the inside. of, he Plat 80, are; the brackets. 8.3. and. 84. in. which, s mounted. an idler. roller 85 underneath which the cloth passes in its. exit from the machine.

The plate '80. has. anopening. 85 therein which is coveredv by means of a flanged portion 81 of a. tube 88 being. welded thereto. The. cloth, in. leaving the. machine passesthrough. the tube 88. This tube. 8.8. in Figure 1 is omitted for sake of. clearness.

The cover section- 8.4. has. secured thereto. handles 90 and 9| and the cover. section. 63 has secured thereto. handles. 92. and. 93 by means of which the. coyer section can be. removed from. the main tub, portion, when. desired, by removing the. bolts. or rivetsv I and, I2.

The front wall 54 has. an entrance. opening 95 therein through which the.- cloth enters into the. machine. Thisopening. covered by a. potreye. 9.6.. and on the. inside. surface of front. wall. 54. is mo nted a. pairof. brackets 91; and 9,8 in which aroller. 951 is mounted beneath which the. cloth. C: passesns it enters the machine.

Immediately below thepot-eyefieis disposed an pening L01 inwhich moun ed aiunn lhaned member lnzadapted, to. catch any. .drippings from the. cloth. C as. it is, constricted to enter the machine. by the, pot-eye. 16.} and. thus any. drippings from. the cloth. would. be. entered. into.v the. inside.

of, themachine;

Thgend wall. 58,.hasv a. suitable opening covered by, a pipe, I113 which: is flanged atits outer end rece ve a. suitable. flan e fitting 1.0.4,. the two flanges behigsecuredtogether by any suitable, means such as bolts or rivets I05. A suitableiIL- let. water pipe 16 is threadably, secured, in. the member I04. On. the inside. of wall. 53-15 posed a bafiie III I to. deflect, the ,water downwardlyl upon entrance into. the machine, should it. have. sufiicient velocity. tov be forced. across a. goodly portionof the interior of the machine.

The wall 59 hasanoverflow. opening in the form, of a pipe llflwelded; therein Wh1Ch.PI'O.- jects outwardly and is flanged. at. I II, and asuitableflanged member U2. is secured thereto; by

any suitable means such as bolts or rivets H3 and a suitable drain pipe H4 is threadably secured in the flanged member I I2.

Suitable water-tight translucent casings H5 and I II are mounted on the interior of the walls 58 and 59 respectively, in which electric light bulbs I I8 are mounted and suitable wires I20 and I2I- lead from each one of these bulbs to a suitable source, oi electrical energy for illuminating the interior of the casing.

There is a suitable inspection opening I22 disposed in the front wall 54 through which the cloth may-be viewed at any time during operation.

Secured. to the bottom 53 and to the front and rear walls. 54 and 55 by any suitable means such as welding are the bafiles or partitions B-I and B-2. The baflle B-I has a portion I extending from the front wall to not quite half the distance to the rear wall, whose upper edge is flanged by being turned away from the end wall 58, and then it. has a portion. I26, which is. parallel. to; the front. and rear wallsv and. then it has a portion I121 extending. to. the rear wall 55,. the upper edge of which. is. flanged and the, flange is projected towardthe end wall. 58. The. baffle or par.- titionB-Z hasa portion, I secured to the inner surface 01 thefltontwall. 54, and it projects ream wardly the, same. distance as. the. portion I25 and is flanged at. its. upper. end, which flange. is. dimeted. toward thelupper flange of portion I25. It then has. a. portion. I.3.I. extending, toward the. end' wall 58,. and. then it. has a. portion. I32. extending to and secured. togthe rear wall. 55.

The top edges of bafiies. B-I, and. B-Zare. diS- posed in. a, horizontal place. sothe water spills evenly over a1l.porti.0ns.of.them,,but the top edge of bafli'e 3-2 is about two inches lower than they top of been v Mounted. on, the. interior surface of end walls 58 and 59" on the vertical portions I25 and. ISIlof.

- the bafllesB-I andBj-2'andalso.ontheproximate faces of the baflle portions. I21. and; I32 are bear: n b x assemblifea. a, description of one of. which. wil1 be. given and. like. reference characters will apply to the others as, they are. all identical.

These bearing box assemblies comprise aplate member I35. having a. plurality of. holes I36 therethrough which are. penetrated bybolts or. riyets. I.3,I to secure. theplate. to the respective portions. above. enumerated. Each. of these plates I35 has a leg portion I38 and to the. lower side of. horizontal portion I38, and. to. the; lower portion of the plate I35 is secured. a plurality of angle. clips- I139. for supporting. the horizontal portion I38. The horizontal. portion I.38.-has mount.- ed thereona plate-member I;4.0.-having elongated sl'ots I4I therein throughwhich-bolts I42 may be' passed and through the. holes I43. in. the. horizontalportion IIIK tosecure the plate, I411 mp0.-

sition. The plate I4'ILhas. integral withits. up.-.

per surface. an. inverted. LL-sha'ped portion. I.

which is reinforced by angle clips. I45 and. I46" on. the sides thereof; which .are also secured. to the. upper. surface.v of: the plate. I 40'.

Fitting snugly. within. the. confines, of the in,- verted U-shaped member [44. is. an. oil. bearing. block I50... Thereisashhn I.5I.disp.osed' at the. lower. edge. oi block 151i and: resting onthe.

plate I 40,.wher eby Whenthebolts. I42, are driven.

home, they will exert. a. binding. effect. on. the. bearing.v I50, to. holditjin position. The. slots MI- in each; oi the plate, members. I411. permit. longitudinal adjustmentoieach bearing member I550 relative, to, the supportinghorizontal portion IJIL.

Rotatably, mounted in the above described.

bearings I50 are the reels R-l, 3-2 and R4. Since the structure of each of these reels-is identical, like reference characters will apply to the individual parts thereof. Each reel comprises a tubular member I55 having heads I56 and I51 secured thereon by any suitable means such as welding and these heads I56 and I51 are suitably perforated in a circle and a plurality of shafts I58 are mounted in these perforations by any suitable means such as welding, and disposed between the heads I56 and I51 and mounted on the tubular member I55 are spacer discs I60 and -I6I which are welded to the tubular member I55 and have a plurality of semi-circular cavities in their peripheries into which the shafts I58 are adapted to fit.

The top roll, which is a driven roll is mounted near the top of the machine and extends from one end of the machine to the other and this roll comprises a cylindrical shell I65 having heads I66 and I61, welded. or otherwise secured in the ends thereof, and secured centrally in these heads I66 and I61 are outwardly projecting stub shafts I68 and I69 which are mounted in the bearings 39 and 48 respectively. The cylindrical member I65 has a tubular resilient covering I such as rubber. The stub shaft I68 has a portion ll! of a coupling member and a companion registering coupling member I12 is secured on a motor shaft I13 extending from an electric motor I16 having wires I and I16 extending therefrom to any suitable source of electrical energy. The electric motor may be supported by any suitable means, one form of support being a table Ill disposed at the proper elevation to cause the couplings Ill and I12 to mesh with each other.

In order to properly guide the cloth C through the apparatus, suitable guiding mechanisms must be provided. It will be noted that to the inside surfaces of end walls 58 and 59 are secured plates I80 and these plates have projecting therefrom parallel spaced plates IBI and I82, which have suitable registering holes therein penetrated by bolts I83 which also penetrate suitable holes I84 in the ends of a bar I85. The bar I85 is rectangular in cross section and to the front side wall are secured-two sets of pins I86 and I81, alternate pins being disposed at different elevations. On the rear side of the bar I85 and at the central portion thereof is mounted a plurality of pins I88 which are rearwardly projecting and which have upper and lower rolls withalternate pins staggered in an up and down relation, the purpose of which is to guide the cloth C in its travel through the washer.

Method of operation A washer of this type is usually a rather large machine eight to ten feet high and four to five feet from front to rear and of any desired length and therefore it 'is easy for a workman to enter the machine through the opening 11. Before the machine is ready for operation, of course, an operator would enter the machine through opening 11 and the cloth C in rope form would be passed through entrance pot-eye 96 and beneath roller 99 and beneath the top roll R,4 which is the rubber covered roll. Then the cloth is led over the roll R4 and downwardly to the front side of the first reel Rr-l and beneath this reel R-I and up through the first set of pins in the right-hand of Figure 10 and again over the roll R4 and this operation is repeated for a plurality of times until convolutions of cloth appear between all of the pins I86. Then the cloth is again passed over the top roll R-4 and beneath the second reel R-2 and then upwardly between the first set of pins I88 and this is continued until convolutions of the cloth appear between all of the pins I88. Then the cloth is passed finally over roll R-4 and downwardly on the front side of the third reel R-3 and beneath this reel and upwardly between the first set of pins I81 and convolutions of the cloth are continued until a convolution of cloth appears between each set of pins I81 and finally the cloth is passed over the roll R-4 and beneath the reel R4 and then beneath the idler roller 85 and through the exit tube 88 to any suitable processing machine for processing the cloth after it has been thoroughly washed.

When the machine has been fully threaded, it being understood that the convolutions of cloth are tautly disposed around the reels R,.I, l t-2 and Rr-3 and the top roll R-fl, then water is admitted to the interior of the machine through inlet pipe I06 which connects to inlet .opening I03. The machine is filled with water up to the point where it overflows through the overflow opening III] and a sufficient volume of water is passed through the machine to continuously renew the water therein. It will be noted that the water as it enters the machine drops into a first compartment or chamber C-I in which the third reel R-3 is mounted and which is defined by the partition B-I and the end wall 58. It will be noted that this partition B-I has its top edgedisposed in a horizontal plane and thus the water will spill over equally at all points along the partition B-I and will fall into the second compartment or chamber 04 in which the second reel R-Z is mounted and which is defined by the partitions 3-! and 3-2. The partition B2 is identical except being opposite hand to partition 3-1 and its top edge is in a horizontal plane but slightly lower than the partition B-I as is evident by referring to Figure 5. The water will fall over the top of partition B-Z into a third compartment or chamber 0-3 in which the first reel R-I is mounted and will circulate, of course, through this compartment C-3 and leave the machine through the exit or overflow opening H0. The machine is now ready for operation and electricalenergy is then supplied to electric motor I14 which drives the roll R4 and-this in turn drives all of the reels R-I, R-2 and R.-3 which are idler reels, but owing to the tension of the cloth, they are rotated by the travel of the cloth through the machine. I

In the drawings and specification there, has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms'are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a taut washer for cloth, a casing having an entrance port and an exit port, a pair of spaced transverse partitions extending from the bottom of the casing upwardly and terminating at a point approximately one-third the height of the casing thus dividing the lower portionof the easing into a first, a second and a third chamber, said partitions extending from the wall on the entrance side of the casing to a pointmidway of the casing and then extending away from each other in a plane parallel to the entrance wall of the casing, and then extending to the wall on the exit side of the casing thus formi "iii-8801892 7 the first and third chambers of L-shaped formation and a, second chamber of T-shaped formation, a single idler reel mounted in each of the said chambers, the idler reels in the first and third chambers being in alinemen-t with each other in the bottom Of'the casing, the axis of the idler reel in the second chamber being parallel to but in off-set relation to the axis of the reels in the first and third chambers, the idler reel in the second chamber having its ends extending past the proximate ends of the reels in the first and third chambers, a driven roller disposed near thetop of the casing andextending for a distance equal to the combined length'ol the reels in the first and-third chambers and being parallel to all of said reels, a cloth guide bar disposed intermediate the driven roller and the idler reels and in off-set relation thereto, a plurality of guiding spokes extending laterally from the guidebar, a water inlet port in one side of the casing and a water overflow port in the other side of the casing whereby a rope or cloth may be drawn into the casing through the entrance port by the driven roller beneath and over which the rope of cloth may pass and may be directed into the third chamber and around the idlerreel therein and then outwardly over the driven roller spirally for a number of times and the cloth may be guided by the spokes in the guide bar as the rope of cloth passes from the driven roller to the idler reel in the third chamber and then the cloth may be guided by the said spokes to the reel in the second chamber a number of times in a spiral manner while still passing around the reel in the third chamber and then the cloth may be guided by the spokes from the driven roller around the reel in the first chamber a number of times in a spiral manner while still passing around the reel in the second chamber and then the cloth may be directed beneath the driven roll and outwardly through the exit port of the casing at the side remote from the entrance port for the cloth.

2. In a taut washer for cloth in rope form, a casing having a front wall and a rear wall and having side walls connecting the same, and a bottom member connected to the lower edges of the said walls, a driven roller mounted in the top portion of the side walls and spanning the distance therebetween, the front wall having an entrance port and the rear wall having a discharge port, a first reel rotatably mounted near the bottom of the casing and adjacent the front wall and having its axis disposed in parallel relation to the driven roller, a second reel rotatably mounted near the bottom of the casing and adjacent the rear wall of the casing and having its axis parallel to the driven roller, a third reel rotatably mounted near the bottom of the casing in alinement with the axis of the first reel, the proximate ends of the first and third reels being spaced from each other a distance less than the axial length of the second reel whereby the secnd reel has its ends extending past the ends of the first and third reelsya guide bar extending between the side walls and having a first set of spokes extending from the front side thereof and disposed above and rearwardly of the first reel, the guide bar having a second set of spokes extending from the rear side thereof and disposed above and forwardly of the second reel, said guide bar having a third set of spokes ex' tending from the front side thereof and disposed above and rearwardly of the third reel, the cloth being adapted to be led through'the. entrance port beneath and over the driven roller to the side thereof adjacent the entrance port and then downwardly below the first reel and upwardly through the first set of spokes for a plurality of times to spirally guide the cloth, the cloth then being adapted to be led downwardly from the driven roller through the second set of spokes and then around the second reel and back around the driven roller for a plurality of times while still passing around the first reel, the cloth then being adapted to be led downwardly between the third set of spokes and below the first reel and upwardly around the driven roller for a plurality of times while still passing around the second reel and a, guiding roller for guiding the cloth from the driven roller to the discharge port, the casing having first and second partitions rising from the bottom thereof and defining first, second and third compartments, the partitions having parallel portions in which the proximate ends of the first and third reels are mounted, the partitions also having diverging portions disposed in alinement with each other, and the partitions also having parallel portions disposed farther apart than the first parallel portions andin which the ends of the second reel are rotatably mounted, the partition between the first and second reels being of lesser height than the partition between the second and third reels, 8, supply pipe feeding into the first compartment and a discharge pipe leading from the third compartment.

3. In a taut washer for cloth in rope form; a casing having a front wall and a rear wall and having side walls connecting the same, and a bottom member connected to the lower edges of the said walls, a driven roller mounted in the top portion of the side walls and spanning the distance therebetween, the front wall having a cloth entrance port and the rear wall having a cloth discharge port, a first reel rotatably mounted near the bottom of the casing and adjacent the front wall and having its axis disposed in parallel relation to the driven roller, a second reel rotat ably mounted near the bottom of the casing and adjacent the rear wall of the casing and having its axis parallel to the driven roller, a third reel rotatably mounted near the bottomof the easing in alinement with the axis of the firstreel, the proximate ends of the first and third reels being spaced from each other a distance jless than the axial length of the second reel, a guide bar extending between the side walls and having a first set of spokes extending from the front side thereof, the guide bar having a second set of spokes extending from the rear side thereof, said guide bar having a third set of spokes extending from the front side thereof, the cloth being adapted to be led through the entrance port beneath and over the driven roller to the side thereof adjacent the entrance port and then downwardly below the first reel and upwardly through the first set of spokes for a plurality of times to spirally guide the cloth, the cloth then being adapted to be led'downwardly from the driven roller through the second set of, spokes and then around the second reel and back around the driven roller for a'plurality of times, the cloth then being adapted to be led downwardly between the third set of spokes and below the third reel and upwardly around the driven roller for a plurality of times and a guiding roller for guiding the cloth from the driven roller to the discharge port, a first partition secured to the bottom and front and rear walls of the casing, and separating the second and third reels,.a seer end partition secured to the bottom and the front and rear walls and separating the first and second reels and being of lesser height than the first partition and thus forming a compartment for the first reel, a compartment for the third reel and a compartment for the second reel, a water supply pipe communicating with the first compartment in which the third reel is mounted and a discharge pipe communicating with the compartment Within which the first reel is mounted, whereby water will cascade over the first partition from the first compartment in which the third reel is mounted into the second compartment in which the second reel is mounted and then cascade into the third compartment in which the first reel is mounted.

4. In a taut washer for cloth in rope form, a casing having a front wall and a rear wall and having side walls connecting the same, and a bottom member connected to the lower edges of the said walls, a driven roller mounted in the top portion of the side walls and spanning the distance therebetween, the front wall having an entrance port and the rear wall having a discharge port, a first reel rotatably mounted near the bottom of the casing and adjacent the front wall and having its axis disposed in parallel relation to the driven roller, a second reel rotatably mounted near the bottom of the casing and adjacent the rear wall of the casing and havin its axis parallel to the driven roller, a third reel rotatably mounted near the bottom of the casing and having its axis in alinement with the axis of the first reel, the proximate ends of the first and third reels being spaced from each other a distance less than the axial length of the second reel, a guide bar extending between the side walls and having a first set of spokes extending from the front side thereof, the guide bar having a second set of spokes extending from the rear side thereof, said guide bar having a third set of spokes extending from the front side thereof, the cloth being adapted to be led through the entrance port beneath and over the driven roller to the side thereof adjacent the entrance port and then downwardly below the first reel and upwardly through the first set of spokes for a plurality of times to spirally guide the cloth, the cloth then being adapted to be led downwardly from the driven roller through the second set of spokes and then around the second reel and back around the driven roller for a plurality of times, the cloth then being adapted to be led downwardly between the third set of spokes and below the third reel and upwardly around the driven roller for a plurality of times and a guiding roller for guiding the cloth from the driven roller to the discharge port, all of said reels being mounted for rotation in vertically disposed guideways to cause their weight to exert pressure on the cloth, a pair of partitions forming separate compartments for the three reels, a water supply pipe connected to the compartment in which the third reel is mounted, a discharge pipe connected to the compartment in which the first reel is mounted, the partition adjacent the discharge compartment being of lesser height than the partition adjacent the intake compartment.

5. In a taut washer for cloth in rope form, a casing having a front wall and a rear wall and having side walls connecting the same, and a bottom member connected to the lower edges of the said walls, a driven roller mounted in the top portion of the side walls and spanning the distance therebetween, the front wall having an entrance port and the rear wall having a discharge port, a first reel rotatably mounted near the bottom of the casing and adjacent the front wall and having its axis disposed in parallel relation to the driven roller, a second reel rotatably mounted near the bottom of the casing and adjacent the rear wall of the casing and having its axis parallel to the driven roller, a third reel rotatably mounted near the bottom of the casing and having its axis in alinement with the axis of the first reel, the proximate ends of the first and third reels being spaced from each other a distance less than the axial length of the second reel, a guide bar extending between the side walls and having a first set of spokes extending from the front side thereof, the guide bar having a second set of spokes extending from the rear side thereof, said guide bar having a third set of spokes extending from the front side thereof, the cloth being adapted to be led through the entrance port beneath and over the driven roller to the side thereof adja-- cent the entrance port and then downwardly below the first reel and upwardly through the first set of spokes for a plurality of times to spirally guide the cloth, the cloth then being adapted to be led downwardly from the driven roller through the second set of spokes and then aroundthe second reel and back around the driven roller for a plurality of times, the cloth then being adapted to be led downwardly between the third set of spokes and below the third reel and upwardly around the driven roller for a plurality of times, a guiding roller for guiding the cloth from the driven roller to the discharge port, a first partition secured to the bottom and front and rear walls of the casing, and separating the second and third reels, a second parti- .tion secured to the bottom and the front and rear walls and separating the first and second reels and being of lesser height than the first partition and thus forming a third compartment for the first reel, a second compartment for the second reel and a first compartment for the third reel, a water supply pipe communicating with the first compartment and a discharge pipe communicatin with the third compartment, whereby water will cascade over the partition from the first compartment in which the third reel is mounted into the second compartment in which the second reel is mounted and then cascade into the third compartment in which the first reel is mounted, all of said reels being mounted for rotation in vertically disposed guideways to cause their weight to exert pressure on the cloth.

HENRY A. DAD/CERON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,363,223 Biach Dec. 28, 1920 1,722,813 McGann July 30, 1929 1,917,419 Andresen July 11, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 7,148 Great Britain June 25, 1902 87,036 Switzerland Feb. 16, 1921, 

